Player Updates

Velasquez agreed to a one-year, $2.249 million deal with the Phillies, avoiding arbitration, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

This is Velasquez's first foray into the arbitration process. The 26-year-old righty seemed to be pretty unlucky last year, logging a 4.85 ERA with a 3.75 FIP. He is under club control for three more seasons before becoming a free agent after the 2021 season.

Velasquez will not start this weekend against the Braves, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Velasquez was in line to pitch the season finale Sunday, but manager Gabe Kapler elected to give Ranger Suarez the nod instead. In his most recent outing versus the Rockies on Tuesday, Velasquez allowed six runs in just 3.2 innings. It's unclear if he will be available out of the bullpen this weekend, though in all likelihood, we've probably seen the last of the right-hander in 2018. Across 31 appearances (30 starts), he logged a 4.85 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 161 strikeouts in 146.2 innings.

Velasquez didn't factor into the decision in Thursday's contest against the Braves. He allowed three earned runs, five hits and one walk over three innings while striking out three.

Velasquez was provided the lead on two separate occasions Thursday, but he ended up blowing those leads and was pulled after only three innings of work. He has now lasted less than five innings in three consecutive starts, and he's allowed multiple earned runs in seven of his last eight outings. The strikeout numbers are encouraging (10.0 K/9 in 2018), but Velasquez now owns a 4.59 ERA over 143 innings this season. He'll look to improve on his recent performances in his next start, which is currently scheduled for Tuesday against the Rockies.

Velasquez didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Marlins, giving up four runs on four hits and a walk over two innings while striking out four.

Miami jumped on him for four runs in the second inning, and with Philadelphia clinging to very faint playoff hopes, manager Gabe Kapler gave Velasquez the hook when his spot in the batting order came up in the bottom half of the frame. The right-hander continues to put a strain on the bullpen, as he's now failed to pitch into the sixth inning in seven straight starts, and he'll carry a 4.50 ERA into his next outing Thursday -- a potentially crucial NL East matchup in Atlanta.

Velasquez (9-11) surrendered five runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out four over four innings while taking the loss Sunday against New York.

Velasquez was spotted an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, but he'd give up a run in the first and four more in the fifth before exiting with a three-run deficit. The 26-year-old has gotten off to a rough start in September, going 0-2 while allowing eight runs over nine innings (two starts). Velasquez will carry a 4.30 ERA with 152 punchouts in 138 frames into his next outing Saturday against Miami.